Electric switch.



.l. LEVEQUE-PETIT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION man APR. 24, 1913.

m N d m e M P TED sa'rnsrann'r orrrc.

JOSEPH LEVEQ'UE-PETIT, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed April 24, 1.913.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn Lnvno'on- Pnrrr,engineer, a subject of the King of the Belgians, and resident of 8 Ruede la. Liniere, Brussels, Belgium, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Electric Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention has for its object to provide an instantaneouslyacting electric switch, in which the switch blade is retained by anabutment during the tensioning of the spring which serves to effect themove ment of the switch blade and the disengage men-t of the contacts.This spring is mounted on a cylindrical body eccentric with respect tothe axis of rotation, and which by engagement with the blade gives tothe blade a combined radial and rotary movement which movement effectsthe disengagement of the contacts and effects an instantaneous break.

In the accompanying drawings is represented by way of example aconstruction of switch according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of the switch; Fig. 2 is a planview of the switch, the cap being removed; Fig. 3 is a view in elevationof the operating button with the eccentric body, made of porcelain; Fig.4 represents part sections of the base of the switch showing theposition of one of the contacts, and Fig. 5 illustrates the relativeposition of the switch blade 1 and the eccentric body.

The switch blade 1 of the switch, forming a bridge over the contacts 2,is provided at its middle with a longitudinal opening or slot 3. Withinthis opening 3 is disposed the eccentric cylindrical body 4 adapted toturn on a spindle 5 carried by the base 6.

A spiral spring 7 surrounds the eccentrical body 1; it is fixed at itslower extremity t0 the switch blade 1 by engagingv under a tongue 9punched in the strip 1; at its upper extremity it rests against a noseor projection 13 in the form of a ratchet tooth disposed under theoperating button 8; the two extremities of the spiral spring are bentoutward several millimeters in such way as to project radially. Thisspring also presses at its lower end against a shoulder or projection 12of the switch blade, exercising on this shoulder or projection apressure directed inwardly of the end.

The use of the coiled spring 7 serves a fourfold purpose:

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 763,303.

1. It serves for the swinging of the blade 1 under the action of theturning movement of the operating button, a swinging move ment whichbegins at the moment that the extremity of this blade 1 pressed againstan abutment will have been released from this abutment by reason of themovement which is imparted to it on the rotation of the eccentric body.1

2. It presses the switch blade 1 against the contacts 2 which can be ofheavy construction.

3. It maintains the spur or shoulder 12 of the switch blade 1 appliedelastically and not rigidly against the eccentric body l, by which issecured the relative position of the body and of the blade 1 shown inFig. 5, a position such that the play or the gap formed in the elongatedopening 01' slot 3 of the blade 1 between this blade and the eccentricbody is diametrically opposed to the shoulder 12, always reaches farenough from the axis to be able to dispose itself against one or otherof the abutments, exercising thereon a tangential pressure and is ableto draw itself in the direction of the axis in the case where it wouldbring itself against an abutment in the radial direc tion, that is tosay in exercising thereon a radial pressure. This can take place ifafter having turned in the wrong direction a fraction of a turn onerotates it in the right direction for operation. The elastic connec tionbetween the blade and the eccentric body 4. will then permit thenecessary and sufiicient displacement of the blade along its axis toescape the detaining part.

a. The extremity of the spring being drawn out so as to overlap thefront side of the blade and touch the abutments during escapement,instead of the blade touching latter, this in order to deaden the shockof blade against the porcelain which would cause same to break.

The base carries four abutments 10 against one of which the bladepresses by its longer arm, that is to say by the arm of the side of thegap formed in the elongated opening or slot 3 between the blade and theeccentric body. On turning the button 8 in the direction indicated bythe arrow (in the direction of the hands of a watch) the spring tensionsitself while the eccentric body causes the blade to recoil, which bladenot being able to turn, is obliged to draw back gradually from thecontacting abutdisengagement of the contacts is effected by ters Patentof the reason of the tension exercised by the spring 7 and the bladeinstantly engages with the following abutment, regaining its initialpositicn with respect to the eccentric body.

Besides the four abutments 10 the base carries two other abutments 11 inthe form of ratchet teeth intended to retain the blade in the case whenthe operating button is operated in the wrong direction, that is to sayin the direction opposed to that indicated by the arrow, and when theblade will tend to displace itself in the opposite direction, held onlyby friction and not directly by the spring, seeing that in this case theupper bent extremity of the spring 7 will pass under the ratchet tooth13 of the button.

The button 8 can be replaced by a blind cap made of porcelain orsteatite, with the eccentric body.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let- United States is:

1. A switch comprising a base, contacts on said base, an eccentric bodyrotatably mounted on said base, a switch blade mounted on said body andhaving a slot therein within which the said eccentric body is disposed,a coiled spring surrounding said eccentric body having one end inengagement with a stop on said eccentric body, and the other attached tothe blade, and resilient means for stopping the movement of said blade2. A switch comprising a base, contacts on said base, an eccentric bodyrotatably mounted on said base, a switch blade having a slot therein,said blade having an upturned lug at one side of said slot, stops tolimit the movement of said blade, a coiled spring surrounding saideccentric body, said spring having its upper end in engagement with astop on said eccentric body, its lower end bearing on the blade, andalso bearing on the outside of said upturned lug to retain said blade inposition with respect to said body, the extremity of the spring beingshaped to form a buffer to contact with said stops upon rotation of theblade.

3. A switch comprising a base, contacts on said base, an eccentric bodyrotatably mounted on said base, a switch blade having a slot and havingan upturned lug at one side of said slot, stops to limit the movement ofsaid blade and a spring surrounding said eccentric body said springhaving its upper end in engagement with a stop on said eccentric body,its lower end bearing on the blade and also bearing on the outside ofsaid upturned lug to retain said blade in position with respect to saidbody, the extremity of the spring being shaped to form a buffer tocontact with said stops upon rotation of the blade, and means forpreventing the backward rotation of the switch blade. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH LEVEQUE-PETIT.

F. JOSEPH LABARRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G."

